Category: blog

An arrest for a felony can be quite stressful, especially if you are unsure of what to expect and how long it will take for everything to be over. Whether you are guilty or not, the waiting period between your arrest and initial arraignment can cause great anxiety. However, it could take 48 hours or…

When a person is arrested and accused of an offense, they will be subject to an arraignment as one of the initial steps in the criminal process. An arraignment refers to the first official court appearance and plays an essential role in the California criminal court process. Whether you have been accused of a felony…

Prank calling is the act of making a phone call or other electronic communication to a person with the main intention of provoking a response from the person by being misleading, humorous, or annoying. This behavior is regulated by several California laws, including Penal Code Section 653m. This statute prohibits communications that are intended to…

If you have been accused of domestic violence, you have a complex and aggressive legal system to deal with, and the situation can be thrown into turmoil by an accusation of domestic violence. One of the first questions many people have is whether the charges will be filed as felonies. The answer is that it…

Shoplifting in a Van Nuys retail store can be a stressful and frightening experience. Security personnel, police involvement, and the risk of a criminal record may make it seem like there is no way to avoid a conviction. But a charge for shoplifting does not equate to a conviction. Shoplifting is a specific-intent crime under…

A heavily debated subject in American gun law is the issue of the open carry of firearms. California has enacted some of the strictest firearm laws. Open carry is generally unlawful for ordinary citizens in most public places in California. Lawmakers over the years have passed laws prohibiting both loaded and unloaded guns from being…

According to California Penal Code 278.5 PC, deprivation of custody is the act of taking, enticing away, keeping, withholding, or concealing a child, and maliciously depriving a legal custodian of a right to custody or visitation. Penal Code 278.5 applies to those who have a legal interest in the child, for example, a parent or…

California Vehicle Code 2800.3 VC criminalizes the willful act of fleeing or trying to flee a pursuing peace officer’s motor vehicle and, in the process, causing serious bodily injury or death to any individual. Being an aggravated form of evading an officer, this offense occurs when the pursuing officer is driving a vehicle that is…

Many perpetrators of violent crimes accomplish the offenses using dangerous knives. Therefore, anyone carrying a concealed weapon is deemed a threat to the public. So, the state passed PEN 21310, prohibiting individuals from carrying a concealed dirk or dagger to promote public safety. A violation of the statute is a wobbler, and if convicted, you…

Harassment refers to any unwelcome, pervasive, or severe conduct based on a person’s protected characteristics, like sexual orientation, gender, and religious beliefs, which creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment. It may include bullying, stalking, or sexual harassment, and all kinds of people, including employers, educators, and landlords. The law protects harassment victims. They can…